Pruning 2 long, dried stems from my orchid.

by Barbara Stewart
(San Antonio, TX, Bexar County)

The leaves on the plant still look healthy and strong. The long cascading bloom stems are dried and wood like. I was told by the plant store to trim the stems back at an angle. What tool should I use? Do I take it all the way to the leaves?

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Apr 20, 2014
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by: Cable Thompson

Since the old inflorescences have died back, the plant no longer cares what you do with them. You can snip them back all the way.

You can use any tool you want, such as a pair of scissors. As your orchid collection grows larger, it becomes a good idea to use sterile cutting tools to avoid spreading diseases between plants, for example by flaming your tools with a kitchen torch between plants; this usually isn't a concern for beginners.

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